I remember when I met Sgt. Shamar Thomas before “Survivor: Caramoan.” My first instinct was; “America’s going to love this guy. He’s like a big, bad-ass teddy bear!” My instincts are not always awesome. I’m the same guy who picked Michelle Chase to win “Survivor: Gabon.”

I had a chance to sit down with all twenty of the “Fans vs. Favorites” competitors the day before they left for the Caramoan Islands. I’ll be posting exclusive interviews with each contestant every weekday until we get through all of them.